Council Officer recommends approval of new drive thru McDonalds as ‘positive contribution’ to Gateway to Wrexham

Plans to build a new drive thru McDonalds in Wrexham could be approved next week despite fierce objection from local councillors and residents.

In February Wrexham.com reported that fresh proposals to build a 24 hour McDonald’s drive-thru at Plas Coch.

The application still proposes that the new fast food outlet is built on the eastern corner of The Range / Argos car park, just off the ‘B&Q’ roundabout and the entrance to the university and Plas Coch retail park.

The scheme comprises of a 445 sqm McDonald’s restaurant with side by side drive thru facilities – with the dining area being 90sqm with 95 seats – slightly less than previously stated.

The car park would provide 29 spaces in total.The restaurant would be accessed from via the existing Retail Park access road which also serves the Argos and The Range Stores and would be open 24 hours Monday to Sunday.

Multiple planning documents for the proposals are set to be discussed by planning committee members on Monday 7 June, including illuminated signage for the site and the drive-thru takeaway.

However despite being recommended for approval by Wrexham Council’s chief officer of planning and regulatory, Lawrence Isted, the plans have been opposed by the local community council and residents.

Objections were submitted by two community councils and councillors Marc Jones and Phil Wynn, who all raised concerns about over development in the area and the impact it would have on traffic and congestion.

In his response, Grosvenor Cllr Marc Jones said: “The Plas Coch retail park has seen several incremental developments in recent years that
increase traffic, including an expanded supermarket, a new hotel, and drive-thru coffee shop, as well as a new housing development on
Glyndwr University campus.

“Ysgol Plas Coch has expanded in recent years to 315 pupils and that also means increased traffic flows at certain times of the day. There is also a planning application for 450 new houses beyond the school Circus Field).

“The Plas Coch area is accessed by three roads and each is already a serious pinch point. The B&Q roundabout has already been mentioned, the Mold Rd/Crispin Lane junction is in desperate need of upgrading and the Stansty underpass is avoided by many due to being narrow. In addition, it is increasingly becoming flooded in heavy rain and will mean additional traffic being diverted to the other access roads;

“The Highways assessment seems at odds with the lived experience of local residents who report long queues already at peak times. A new drive-thru McDonalds will make matters far worse.

“I also have concerns that an all-night facility would lead to anti-social behaviour and claims by the developer that the car park would be gated off in such an event are unconvincing.”

Concerns were also raised by 83 members of the community, who said the development would have a negative impact upon the ‘Gateway to
Wrexham’ WCBC initiative, result in anti social behaviour and “boy racers” and a “saturation” of food outlets in one area.

One resident said: “If planning is granted then the Councils should be ashamed of themselves. Come on Wrexham Council, have some standards and refuse this application.”

However in his report Mr Isted described the proposed development as “acceptable in terms of scale and design” and that “the increased in traffic generation is not significant and is considered to be negligible in terms of its impact upon the existing highway network.”

He added: “The appearance of the built form and the associated landscaping of the site will adequately assimilate the development into the wider context of the area.

“The development of the site would not be detrimental to the residential or visual amenities of the locality and would make a positive contribution to the area as ‘Gateway’ into Wrexham.”

“The highway authority has confirmed that the level of parking provision for the proposed restaurant and existing retail units is acceptable to serve the users of the site, and that safe vehicular and pedestrian access has been secured.

“The development of the site would not be detrimental to the amenity of the public and the quality of the environment would not suffer from adverse impacts of pollution or noise etc.

“Surface and foul / waste water can be managed appropriately and I am satisfied that the development of the site will not contribute to any surface water flooding issues locally.”

The application will be considered for approval by planning committee members on Monday 7 June at 4pm.